The Board of Trustees, Penn's highest governing body, met last week in Houston Hall to discuss issues ranging from globalization to renovating the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
In a series of meetings, the trustees mainly approved plans by University President Amy Gutmann and her administration as well as received updates on projects that are under way.
Along that vein, the trustees received a report from Provost Ron Daniels at the Student Life Committee meeting.
In the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting, Daniels spoke about Penn's effectiveness in reaching out to students who may be troubled. He cited programs such as Counseling and Psychologial Servies as one example.
Daniels also laid out the latest moves by the administration to implement the Penn Compact, a three-pronged plan to increase the University's global exposure.
Daniels said that Penn's goal is to increase students' exposure to international issues through means other than traditional study abroad programs.
He cited Penn's commitment to recruiting foreign faculty members and programs like one the Medical School has in Botswana, in which students and faculty members help local hospitals in HIV care.
Daniels detailed the Penn World Scholars Program to the trustees. This program will bring approximately 25 students from developing countries to attend Penn on scholarship and attempt to provide each with an alumnus mentor from his or her home country.
Additionally, the committee said that a goal of the administration is to move toward need-blind admissions for international students and make better financial-aid options available for them, though because of financial constraints this isn't expected to be achieved soon.
On the construction front, the University Museum is scheduled for a complete overhaul - which Gutmann said is needed.
"It's worse than a maze," she said of the museum's current layout.
Because of this, the trustees were presented with a 20-year master plan for the Museum.
In four phases, the Museum will be enlarged, with a parking garage, west entrance and central atrium added.
Anne Papageorge, vice president of Facilities and Real Estate Services, also briefed the trustees on summer renovations around campus, including those that are taking place in the College houses, Meyerson Hall, Williams Hall and David Rittenhouse Laboratories.
In addition, the fence around the Quadrangle is being refurbished, circulation on the 3rd and 4th floors of Fagin Hall is improving and the Civic House is being renovated to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
